As a senior member on Chivas USA’s team, perhaps no one knows the magnitude of the SuperClásico better than Jorge Villafaña. The midfielder has seen the ups and downs the Red-and-White have gone through in the standings since his arrival to the club in 2007 and has seen the rivalry at its highest of levels. The Southern California product joined Chivas USA in the franchise’s third year in Major League Soccer and arrived at a time where the Rojiblancos were becoming one of the League’s winningest clubs. Along with that, the winger has competed in several installments of the SuperClásico, and this Sunday’s 29th all-time meeting between the cross-hall rivals will be just as exciting as his first, he says.

2007 marked the first time the Rojiblancos reached the post-season and in the following years became one of the front-runners in the Western Conference, something Villafaña indeed remembers. In 2009, Chivas USA recorded 13 wins to go along with six ties to propel them into the post-season, and squared off against the Galaxy in the two-game playoff series. Though the Goats fell short of advancing, Villafaña says that the rivalry was taken up a notch even more with that battle.

“A SuperClásico is something that everyone wants to play in,” Villafaña said. “But just imagine how greater it is as a Playoff match. In games like that you have to leave it all out on the field. Your adrenaline is running and you have to win – no turning back.”

After the sides played to a thrilling 2-2 tie, the Galaxy took the series with a 1-0 victory in the second leg, and since then, have taken a one-sided advantage in the rivalry. The Goats lost last year’s season series in the final leg, as the sides entered the match with a win apiece. In this season’s first installment, the Red-and-White battled back playing a man down to secure a 1-1 tie. With the combination of a couple recent positive results against their cross-hall rival to go along with the arrival of new Head Coach José Luis Real, Villafaña knows that those are points the club can build on heading into Sunday’s match and beyond.

“When I first arrived the club was one of the conference leaders and we competed in playoff matches,” Villafaña recalled. “I remember it well and it is something very exciting and that’s what we are working on to reach that level. And now with [Real], the team is taking shape and developing and the difference is noticeable. It takes time, but I think it can be done. He’s a very good coach and what better than to get a result against the Galaxy to give us a huge boost in confidence. In these matches you forget about the past because they are unique and we come into the match confident.”